Dr. Mark Gorovoy, an eye surgeon from south Fort Myers in Florida, is radically changing the way corneal transplants are being done around the world, while cutting down on healing time and reducing the risk of future visual injuries.

He is referred to as one of the top experts in the world on the procedure called deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty, or DLEK.

Corneal transplant is traditionally done using penetrating keratoplasty where an entire donated cornea is sewn onto a patient's eye after the diseased cornea is removed.

"The problem with the procedure is it gives the patient a clear cornea, but the patient often doesn't see well because of the prolonged need for sutures. Often, they'll need contact lenses."

Additionally, since the cornea is sewn into place and there are sutures around the entire lens, any eye trauma even after several years results in a higher incidence of blindness.

For the last two years, Gorovoy has been slicing off the inside layer of the transplantable cornea, called the endothelium, by adapting and modifying equipment used in Lasik surgery. Instead of using sutures to hold the new cornea in place, Gorovoy pumps a small air bubble into the area, sealing the cornea in place. After a few days, the air bubbles are absorbed and the cornea heals into its new position. Sutures were used in the original incision area, not on the new cornea.

Gorovoy said patients see quickly and many don't need corrective lenses after the transplant.

May 15th, 2007 While corneal transplants may not get the news coverage that large organ transplants receive, some 40,000 are performed each year across the United States. Corneal transplantations are restoring sight for many who years earlier may have been blinded permanently by corneal injury or disease.

August 29th, 2006 IntraLase Corp. (Nasdaq:ILSE) announced today that patients requiring corneal transplant surgery resulting from the recentoutbreak of Fusarium Keratitis eye infection can take advantage of the benefits of corneal transplantation with the advanced IntraLase(R) FSLaser free of charge.

July 9th, 2008 A new laser known as femtosecond laser could change the face of the corneal transplant outcomes. A pilot program called the Femtosecond laser assisted keratoplasty or FLAK was done for two years.

March 18th, 2009 Cornea is generally a tissue that is not vascularized, does not contain blood vessels and thus is less prone to acute rejection, the rate of rejection reactions in high risk corneal transplant patients is in the range of 50 percent over one year. Lux Biosciences today announced the completion of enrollment in the company’s phase 3 LUCIDA (LUx Corneal Transplant Implant Development and Advancement of Therapy) clinical trial program for LUMITECT™ (LX201).

November 18th, 2007 University of California eye researcher Dr. Bill Stell, chair of Vision Quest Conference, said "Research is progressing rapidly in the areas of gene therapy, stem cell research and encapsulated cell technology." He added, "Some types of blindness could be prevented and some vision could be restored to the blind within five, 10 or 15 years".

November 8th, 2005 Edward Bailey, 65 lost the sight in his left eye caused by an accidental drop of caustic soda in his eye at work. After two unsuccessful corneal transplants, he underwent a pioneering stem cell operation that restored his vision.

September 30th, 2008 Glaucoma is one of the major reasons of corneal damage. There is a condition called congenital glaucoma that is responsible for corneal clouding in babies.Infants also have abnormalities of the cornea and iris (the colored circular area in the eye that opens and closes to control the amount of light coming into the eye).

2 Responses to “Eye Surgeon Revolutionizes Corneal Transplant”

I recently had a Partial cornea transplant, by a Dr. Mark Terry…Portland , oregon…He is a expert in his field and might I say He is THE BEST in my book…..My vision is WOW,,,I had macular dystrophy , now I can see colors like i never seen them before…..I suffered living in a fog for 20 years or more and finially got the courage to do it……He did the procedure you taled about….if this Dr. Grovovoy Is one of the two top surgens that do this Dr. Mark Terry is the other one…..Yes…and I must say that this is why making donor donations is so very important…I would not be where i am today with out them…..Sue

My son had ptosis surgery when he was 2 and 7. At t 7 he had in both eyes. We put the drops in but for some reaosn it wasnt enough and the corea was damaged. (It was the non ptosis eye. He is 28 and now the drying is very extensive ( he refused to believe he would get worse without drops) and he had a new abrasion. He has very little sight in left eye at this time. The doctor is suggesting he have both lids fixed becaseu they odnt do the take the facia from leg any more becasue so many people had these problesm He di not suggest a corneal speicalst . At what point is a patenined with corneal damage not able to benefit. At this point a conctact was not suggested either. HE lives in ILlinois